UPSB v3
General Discussion / Penspinning Ability and Location
Are they related?
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Date: Sat, Nov 7 2009 03:29:48
Okay, this is something that I started to think about when I saw Tek's comment on the THPSC WC10 Qualification video about howTHSPC is taking over penspinning. Only thing I can think of with most of the boards in comparison to UPSB is that they are in smaller (by size) countries than UPSB. While UPSB-based users are spread all over the world (mainly North America), the other boards are based in one country, which is also much smaller in size (Germany, France, Thailand, Japan). Does being located in a small country and being able to have larger gatherings affect the spinning ability, or help keep the competitive spirit going?
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Date: Sat, Nov 7 2009 06:41:28
I guess its a little more competitive. Being in SoCal, we're pretty much the hot spot of Pen Spinning in North America.
I'd say its more competitive because being closer together we are actually able to see other spinners in person rather than just webcaming and collaborations.
And since we do see each other often it kinda puts pressure on us. You go to one gathering and see how good people actually are. And you want to improve yourself for the next gathering. Personally after a gathering, I actually go home and practice my spinning. I normally don't practice at all, but its something about a gathering that makes you want to better yourself.
And even if you are considered the fastest, smoothest, technically hardest spinner in the world. You get to see different styles entirely. Not just 10 seconds of it.
Like, when you watch a collab you get only see 10 seconds of what someone can actually do with a pen. In my opinion, if you can see some of the Central/So-Cal spinners free-styling you'll be blown away.
And in smaller countries like Germany, Japan, Thailand, etc. its sooo much easier to have a larger gathering, heck we as Californians struggle to make it to gatherings all the time. -
Date: Sat, Nov 7 2009 06:53:53
Not only that, but i believe it has to do with cultures. Asians seem "naturally" amazing at just about everything, but its because they are trained young to work very very hard, so it trains in discipline and focus. Thats why they can be the best at what they try to do. I do believe that, as americans as a whole, we are quite lazy. we do not go through the kind of training they do, therefore we dont have the focus and the mental aspect to allow use to be good at technical things like this.
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Date: Sat, Nov 7 2009 07:48:13
*steps away from national generalizations*
Another thing. California as a state has more people than freakin CANADA. However, it's not like people are as crowded in region as they are in say Tokyo, so it's a mix between lots of people, and distance to gatherings. I wouldn't drive (assuming I have a license by this time haha) two hours to go to a Pacific Northwest / Seattle / Vancouver gathering, but perhaps others will. Either way, it becomes a deterrent.